Saturday, March 29, 2014

On March 20, Kevin Sullivan turned 40, joining the ranks of master runners. Just nine days later he owned the Springtime 10K record for masters, winning the 39th annual race in 32:03. It was Sullivan's second straight Springtime victory. Just over a minute and a half behind Sullivan, three-time Springtime champion Chris Lake took second in 33:37. Seeley Gutierrez captured the women's title, placing 13th overall in 38:09. The top woman master was Carrie Seiberlich, third woman and 36th overall in 41:16.

More than 700 athletes finished the 6.2-mile race, but more than a few stayed away when they woke up to rain and rumbling thunder the Saturday of the race. The last lightning flashed before dawn, though, and as racetime approached the rain slowed to an intermittent drizzle. The Springtime 10K started as scheduled from in front of the Leon County Courthouse at 8:10 AM.

Vince Molosky led the field early, reaching the mile mark out front in 5:04. That was a faster pace than he was going to run that morning, though. Just after the mile Molosky was overtaken by a group of four runners; Kevin Sullivan, Eric Larson, Stephen Cox, and Chris Lake. As the leaders turned onto Lafayette Street and started their climb into the Myers Park hills, Sullivan made a break.

"I was dead even with Kevin for a mile and a quarter," recalled Cox. "Then the rest of the race happened."

By the two-mile mark Kevin Sullivan had opened a twelve-second gap. Chris Lake moved ahead of Chris Larson and Stephen Cox, but he was still losing ground to Sullivan. A little more than halfway through the race Lake had a solid grip on second, and Larson had passed Cox to stake a claim on third. Sullivan was so far ahead, though, that even Lake was only occasionally catching a glimpse of him on the road ahead.

In the end, that was the order they crossed the finish line. Kevin Sullivan of Capital City Runners first in 32:03, followed by Chris Lake in 33:37, Eric Larson third in 34:16, and Stephen Cox fourth in 34:20.

Seeley Gutierrez led the Springtime 10K women's field from start to finish. Katie Sherron, however, had to run down master runner Carrie Seiberlich for the runner-up spot in the women's standings. Seiberlich was the second woman through two miles, and it was only on the third mile that Sherron was able to catch her. Gutierrez never had to look back, taking the women's title in 38:09. Sherron was the second woman finisher, 26th overall in 40:09. At 41:16, Seiberlich took third on the women's side.

Top Ten Men, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2014 Springtime 10K

32:03 ~ Kevin Sullivan (M, 40) Tallahassee, FL

33:37 ~ Chris Lake (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL

34:16 ~ Eric Larson (M, 24) Tallahassee, FL

34:20 ~ Stephen Cox (M, 30) Tallahassee, FL

34:26 ~ Charlie Johnson (M, 34) Tallahassee, FL

34:36 ~ Vince Molosky (M, 34) Tallahassee, FL

34:52 ~ Zach Deveau (M, 26) Tallahassee, FL

36:49 ~ Douglas Bell (M, 45) Tallahassee, FL

36:53 ~ Michael Martinez (M, 48) Tallahassee, FL

37:13 ~ Carl Nordhielm (M, 51) Tallahassee, FL

Top Ten Women, Gulf Winds Track Club's 2014 Springtime 10K

38:09 ~ Seeley Gutierrez (F, 37) Tallahassee, FL

40:09 ~ Katie Sherron (F, 32) Tallahassee, FL

41:16 ~ Carrie Seiberlich (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL

41:54 ~ Melissa Thompson (F, 29) Thomasville, GA

42:15 ~ Micah Adriani (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL

42:22 ~ Jillian Heddaeus (F, 30) Tallahassee, FL

43:29 ~ Renee Cox (F, 26) Tallahassee, FL

43:35 ~ Kelly Resha (F, 25) Tallahassee, FL

44:00 ~ Vicky Droze (F, 38) Tallahassee, FL

44:22 ~ Mary Anne Grayson (F, 48) Thomasville, GA

For the eighth year Springtime included a 5K option, with the runners in the 3.1-mile race starting at the same time as the 10K. Adam Greenstein won the shorter race in 17:50. Amy Hines was the top woman, coming in second overall in 18:17. 443 athletes finished the 5K.